A tragedy at Cape Spear, N.L., has broken hearts 10,000 kilometres away in India

The tragic death of Sandeep Kaur, a 22-year-old woman who was swept into the ocean at Cape Spear, N.L., has left her family in Punjab, India in disbelief and seeking answers. Sandeep, also known as Sandy, came to Canada in 2022 as an international student, funded by the sale of her family’s ancestral land. After earning a diploma in tourism from a college in Brampton, Ont., she moved to Newfoundland and Labrador in September as a permanent resident.

Sandeep’s family, including her father Gurmail Singh, brother Kuldeep Singh, and uncle Jagdish Singh, are struggling to cope with her disappearance. Despite their efforts to seek help from officials in Punjab and Canadian authorities, the search for Sandeep has been called off by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, citing no suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Prior to her tragic incident, Sandeep worked at an international shipping and receiving company in St. John’s but was facing financial difficulties. Her co-worker, Kat Galazzo, described her as a sweet and hardworking individual, expressing shock over the turn of events.

On January 15, Sandeep and a male companion visited Cape Spear National Historic Site, where she was swept into the ocean by a wave. Despite warnings signs and the freezing temperatures, they ventured too close to the shoreline. Search efforts by various agencies proved unsuccessful in locating Sandeep, while her companion, who also relocated from Brampton to St. John’s, has remained unresponsive to the family’s messages.

Hailing from the district of Bathinda in Punjab, India, Sandeep’s family relied on her to find work in Canada and support them financially. Described as empathetic and cheerful, Sandeep had dreams of moving to Canada to fulfill her family’s aspirations. Language barriers may have contributed to the tragedy, as Sandeep’s limited understanding of English may have prevented her from fully comprehending the warnings at Cape Spear.

The loss of Sandeep Kaur has left a void in the hearts of her loved ones, both in India and Canada. Her family continues to seek closure and answers as they come to terms with the untimely passing of a bright and promising young woman.